As rental prices continue to rise, many people are looking for roommates to help offset the high cost of living. It’s hard enough for friends or acquaintances to share a place when there’s one bedroom for each of them, but the slow recovery of the economy has made it difficult for some people to afford even this. So, is it possible for two people to share a one bedroom apartment? A studio? It may be possible, but it definitely isn’t easy.

You did it in college, right, so what’s the big deal with sharing a room now? For many people who’ve shared a bedroom in the past, the thought of returning to that arrangement may seem unpalatable, though far from impossible. Even if you’re used to having your own space and have lived in your own apartment, or at least your own bedroom for many years, you can set yourself up for success sharing a room once again. Before you get into this situation however, you’ll want to make sure that you and your roommate are very compatible and that you lay out all the ground rules clearly so that there’s no confusion or hurt feelings later on. Also, be sure to check with your landlord prior to arranging this sort of setup – your housing arrangement is about to be tenuous enough without rocking any other boats!

One of the best things to do if you’re going to share a bedroom is set up a room divider or a curtain, like these we found at Portable Partitions. This will allow you to each have your own personal space within the room, and while you’ll still be able to hear each other through the divider, at least you’ll have some privacy away from your roommate’s field of vision.

Sit down with your roommate and come up with ground rules before you move in together. Will overnight guests be allowed? If so, how often? Is it acceptable to ever leave clutter lying around? Will there be times when one roommate or the other will have private use of the room? How often will you clean, and who will be in charge of which chores? When are the quiet hours? What kinds of things get on each of your nerves? Will you have scheduled meetings to discuss your issues or only meet to talk about problems as they arise? Answering these questions and others like them will help you set up a strong framework for your agreed-upon room rules.

With a one bedroom apartment, it’s not too hard to give your roommate some privacy when they need it. You may even be willing to camp out every once in a while on the couch if your roommate has a guest, and the living room is always available for one of you to get away from the other for a little bit. But what if you’re sharing a studio? A dorm room may be a little like a studio apartment, but there are many common areas in the building and on the campus that give you a place to get away from your roommate. Once you’ve left college and are out on your own, however, it will be harder to give your roommate space and to get enough of it yourself. A studio may be attractive for its lower rent but it may also spell disaster for two people to share, whether they’re a couple or just friends. Before you decide to share a studio with a roommate, consider carefully how much privacy you’re willing to give up, because chances are, you won’t get much of it until the end of that lease.

Have experience in a cramped situation? Tips for people considering this option? Let us know here or on our Facebook page!